A La Cruz

I went to A La Cruz for dinner on a Saturday night. I am fairly picky about my steaks and I thought my fillet was cooked to perfection. There was a nice selection of (not too expensive) nice wines and the dessert (i had creme caramel) was just perfect. Highly recommended, if you are serious about steak.
Comment on this reader review

steak maniac
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Saturday, July 24, 2010

We had lunch at A La Cruz yesterday. What a great disappointment. My rib eye steak was the worst that I have ever had (they, correctly did not charge for it). The publicity material fell FAR short of reality. I feel that restaurants such as this are certainly not good ambassadors for Argentina and her cuisine !! I suggest that one avoids this over-priced and poor restaurant. They have perhaps moved backwards from the poor comments made by 'Time Out' over 9 months ago.
Comment on this reader review

Nick
3 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 1
Saturday, July 10, 2010

We have lived in Clerkenwell for ages and have tried almost of all of the local eateries. When this opened we were put off by Time Out's very negative review but we decided this evening to give the place a try.

We immediately liked the feel of the place when we entered and the foody smells are very tempting.

For the starters we had the chorizo de cerdo and the morcilla (black pudding) - both extremely tasty and very good. For main courses we had what we imagined to be the 'signature' dishes from their asador - the vacio for my wife and the asado for me. The edible bits of hers were very good but a large percentage of the whole was was tough and stringy and very hard to chew and swallow. My asado was frankly inedible - lots of bone and fat and the only meat present was stringy and dreadful. Thankfully it was replaced immediately and without a murmur of protest but the replacement was not a huge amount better - more meat and rarer, but still very stringy and involving way too much chewing to justify bothering to eat it.

Generous portions yes but without edibility what is the point?:

No problems at all with the service.

It grieves me to give such a negative report on a local restaurant but we will not be going back.
Comment on this reader review

6 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Having lived in Clerkenwell for the last 10 years we love supporting our local businesses. Running my business around the corner from A La Cruz I had hoped to be able to use the restaurant for more business dining. Tonight A La Cruz proved it is not worthy of more business - let alone ours.

We booked earlier tonight for dinner at 8 pm - 2 men its seems - even with a booking are not required in Argentinean A La Cruz country. We were offered the furthest table from any diners - by the kitchens - and finally provided the 'tourist table' - by the front door, on the route to the toilets - and studiously ignored throughout the evening.

Our meal lasted 1 hour in total - the cost £90 - but the real cost incalculable. to them as a business. We left with no request to come again - indeed no request to find out our view of the evening - which is why we're left to provide it here.

Too much testosterone across the waiting staff lead always to one simple problem with any restaurant - it its run for the staff not the diners!

Please prove us wrong and tell me you have a better experience?
Comment on this reader review

Tony Fitzpatrick
3 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 3
Saturday, June 12, 2010

You'll find this restaurant just a bit off the beaten track, just behind Exmouth Market. Although in an old building, it has a very modern, glass, white and dark wood decor with high ceilings. We went last night (Tuesday) and the atmosphere was quite buzzy.

Empanadas to start which are like deep fried cornish pasties. The beef one was delicious but the ham and cheese lacked flavour in comparison. We ordered the slow cooked beef and beef milanese for the main. The steak was very large but due to it being slow cooked it only comes medium-well done and my preference would have been less but that aside, it was very flavoursome indeed. The beef milanese is basically flattened steak which has been breaded and fried. This was delicious and served with a salad garnish and a slice of lemon.

2 dishes provided plenty of food for 2 people but we also ordered chips and a side salad which we ended up having to leave as we couldn't fit it in so be wary of this if you're not a big eater.

Overall the service was a bit patchy. Our waiter seemed to be clomping around all over the place, looking shifty behind us and fairly unsure of what he was doing (perhaps it was his first night?). The second waiter however was very attentive and well-polished and to be honest, showed the first guy up a bit!
Comment on this reader review

Abbie - View all reviews by this user
7 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, June 09, 2010

We went there last night for my brother's birthday.

On entering the restaurant you're struck by the glassed in Asador (a kind of built in barbecue) and two slabs of slow roasting meat - lamb and beef.

Since it was a Tuedsay night the restaurant was fairly empty. The service was friendly and helpful. We had empanadas and sweet breads to start. Both were very tasty although the empanadas were slightly cold in the middle which leads me to believe perhaps they were microwaved in the kitchen. No big deal though.

For the mains we had 2 portions of the parralladas maxi, which is basically a steak mixed grill and my sister opted for the Asado, a slow cooked cut of beef on the bone with a crunchy layer of fat on the outside. They were all delicious! And in the end we had ordered way too much for just the 3 of us which unfortunately meant there was no room for dessert.

Not that cheap but not too expensive either. I would definitely come here again for a great steak.
Comment on this reader review

Quang Phan
7 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 5
Wednesday, May 12, 2010

I went there on Saturday evening and had an excellent meal. I started with the empanadas which were delicious. Also had a provoleta, which was a bit dissapointing as it was not grilled (as it should be), instead it was just melted cheese. As a main I had a sirloin steak which was to die for... Excellent meat cooked to perfection. Finished with a traditional flan. Will def be back, not many places sell Argentine steak for that price
Comment on this reader review

9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Having been to Buen Ayre in Hackney, I was delighted to hear that the owners have opened a new, larger venue in a more convenient location (at least for me anyway). A La Cruz was also recommended by a friend of mine, a noted carnivore, so little time was lost in booking a table. We went on a (quiet) Monday night, and had a fantastic meal. Highlights as follows:

- Venue was well presented, with the asado grill an impressive centerpiece. There is a proper parilla grill as well though, for those that prefer that method of cooking.

- The beef, obviously the most important aspect, was everything you expect from good Argentine cuts. Succulent, juicy, tasty beef. And lots of it. The normal-sized traditional parillada for three came piled high on the little grill for the table - one can only imagine what the maxi-sized portion must be like.

- Sweetbreads were great. Try them.

- Service was good and friendly.

- You get real value for money. Despite being extremely greedy, I could not finish the parillada - which cost the same as one large steak at Gaucho's. Leftovers were taken home in a convenient bag.

At the end of the evening, three happy diners walked home up Rosebery Avenue (quite slowly in my case, as I had gorged myself on half a cow).

Don't believe the two-star review from Timeout, A La Cruz deserves four stars. If you like Buen Ayre, but Hackney is a bit out of the way, go here.
Comment on this reader review

Mr A Vark, Islington - View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, March 30, 2010

What you pay for is what you get! Cheap and basic food. Yes it is noisy and yes they have been playing the same annoying music sinde they opened yes the sound quality is only slightly better than the annoying guy next to you on the tube with the cheap earphones.

They have now joined the throng aiming for large groups who are often well oiled (the men normally who think they are sooo cool and and get louder as the night goes on). If you are out with your mates and want somewhere cheap its the place for you, even thoug the gaucho grill offer similar prices top quality.

The Argentinean guests have long since decamped. Those in search of authentic food have moved onto the cafes around stoke newighton where the food is cheaper and authentic.

Their empanadas are poor, pre cooked and soft with little taste to the sauce. For this signature dish they should be ashamed, so I can sympathise with our Argentinean reviewer.

This place is a poor example of an Argentinean steak house, I cannot agree more with the review by Guy Dimond from TimeOut.
Comment on this reader review

Maria - View all reviews by this user
4 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 2
Friday, February 26, 2010

A truly authentic Argentine restaurant in London. Unlike other grills that claim to be but anyone who has ever been to the Pampas knows they are not. I went there for dinner with a group of friends last week. The asador is very impressive and really adds to the atmosphere of this place.

The food is fantastic! The parrillada was everything you could have wished for and more. The black pudding and the pancakes we had for dessert get 10/10. There is an excellent range of a good quality wines too. Even the house red is good.

The staff we very welcoming and professional. I will be going back for more very soon.
Comment on this reader review

Gringa
8 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 9
Friday, February 05, 2010